The Design Junkie

Black and white rooms with pops of color

2011-11-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hey kids! This'll be short and sweet because I am in uber-hurry mode. My friend, Kristen, asked me for room ideas with black and white designs with pops of bright colors.

I thought this would be the easiest way to give it to her:

image via smallshopstudio.com

image via BHG

image via Google Images

I could easily see the space below with black instead of gray and it looking super spacious and classy.

image via BHG

image via Simple Dwellings

image via Weekday Carnival

image via Pinterest

image via Decorpad

image via Livin' in a beehive

image via Pinterest (but this is a Jonathan Adler)

image via Martha Stewart Living

image via Little Green Notebook

image via Estate Eclectic

image via Apartment Therapy

This combo used to be my favorite. I was obsessed with black and white stripes and polka dots. It's so easy to decorate a room, just throw in a colorful lamp, pillow, vase of flowers and blam! All done.

If you have any room suggestions for my friend, Kristen, feel free to drop em' below.

PS-What do you think of the new look? I meant to take a screen shot of the old one but I forgot :(

I'm not done yet, I still need to finish coding the background image. Blogger hates me so it has been a slow go.

My stamps, stickers, logos, banners, etc. have all been custom made by Scarlett Pencil Designs. I will have buckets more info on it and them very soon!

Pink on the Floor: Guest post by Arcadian Lighting

2011-10-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting blog, a wonderful place to find inspiration for cool light fixtures and lighting projects.

I love visiting design blogs as a guest blogger. I'm excited to be visiting The Design Junkie, one of my favorite blogs for inspiration. My guest post today is about pink floors. Pink floors can feel ultra-girly, retro, modern and uber contemporary... it all depends on the color and the room. Hope you enjoy!

The painted wood floors of the Humlegarden apartment in Stockholm are incredible. The shades of pink, rose and red make for a mosaic-like effect. Gorgeous!

Pink and white chevron painted wood floors are so charming in this bedroom. We love the pale pink in this cheery, happy space.

Note the rose pink of this geometric painted area rug. The pink is perfect against the white and blond wood of the modern furniture. That clear pendant light is just right for this space.

The deep rose in the antique rug is a sophisticated pink for the floor. Love the Turkish rug amid the beautiful mix of global patterns and table lamps.

For a girls' room, a large pink area rug with a graphic pattern is a pretty choice. I love the tone on tone color of this pink area rug.

Pink floors and a pink fridge make this a very girly kitchen. Too Barbie? Think of the pink paired with whites, yellows or even grey for a more sophisticated palette.

Brilliant pink Flor tiles really stand out against black walls in this foyer. You can see how other colors, like yellow, pop against the pink of the floor.

Pink and white in a bathroom can feel too feminine or girly. This white bathroom gets a pop of bright pink on the floor. The strong color doesn't feel little girl at all, but rather chic and modern just like the wall lamps and sink consoles.

Images: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

What do you think of the pink floors? Don't forget to stop by Arcadian Lighting to check out some lighting fixtures to go with your pink flooring!

Things I Love Today: White on White

2011-09-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

Hey there! I'm Jenn and I write for Design Shuffle, a popular social media/networking site that chronicles interior designs and decorating ideas from around the world. I've been writing about home decor for over a decade and love everything about bedroom design, den design, kitchen design, and more. The web has always been a source of inspiration, and it's great sites like The Design Junkie that get my creative juices flowing. Thanks for letting me guest post here today Chrissa as part of your regular "Things I Love Today" series.

Interior designs for white on white wide open spaces are always airy and fresh - a monochromatic colour palette allows for an endless array of decorating ideas. Modern or traditional and used coast to coast by New York interior designers as well as Los Angeles interior designers, white on white wide open spaces are always "in," and these eight incredible spaces will demonstrate why this is a popular trend.

A white den design

This uncomplicated great room, which includes a kitchen, eating area, and sitting room, looks streamlined in white. The black-framed prints on the walls break up the starkness.

White living room design ideas

Just a dash of butter yellow and soft brown are the only colours in this living room design, and with the linen furniture and curtains as well as the architectural detailing, it's all that's needed.

A touch of cream

The white walls along with the sheer fabrics of the shades and mod lighting fixture all come together beautifully in this living room design.

All-purpose flower

There's no shortage of interesting pieces in this white on white open space - from the daybed to the busy entertainment unit, it's the high ceilings of this airy room that keeps it from feeling cluttered.

A workspace for two

Everything is white in this home office: desks, chairs, shelving, even the folders and other office supplies. The long configuration of the room gives it an inviting feeling.

White on white great room

The white slatted roof and minimalist living room design make this space take on a look that is both classic as well as contemporary.

For the new baby

A white on white nursery in an open space such as this looks sweet and soothing - the only colour in the room is the two-toned crib, a pretty detail.

White on white bedroom design

This cozy white bed still stands out against the stark backdrop - even the shiny tiled white fireplace is gorgeous. The addition of the brown chair gives the space more dimension.
Images ( 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 )

Thanks Jenn for visiting!

If you'd like to do a guest post on The Design Junkie, please send me an email.
xo, Chrissa

I need this kitchen so I'm making it...

2011-09-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

...kind of.

So this winter I'm doing a teensy-weensy renovation to my kitchen. We're talking low, low, low budget stuff here. Of course this means a special Pinboard for the project, but also that I need to track down some things.

My inspiration:

image via House of Turquoise

My formula is pretty simple:

Replace my stove and dishwasher with gently used "newish" ones from The Habitat From Humanity ReStore (this will involve a tiny bit of planning),
Paint all of my cabinets white (taking huge ques from Marion aka Miss Mustard Seed)
Cover my counter tops with a stainless steel laminate that a friend is hooking me up with
Add the hardware you see above
Replace my sink with a bib sink (if I can find one with a lip on it)
Swap out some cupboards for open shelving
Add subway tile backsplash
Paint my current fridge chalk board paint black because I've wanted to do it ever since I saw this by Lauren Leiss of Pure Style Home

image via Pure Style Home

(I wish the open-rafter ceilings were an option, but any noise from upstairs would sound thunderous if I tried to do that so no dice)

Most importantly:

FIND THESE TINS.

Halp!

In the meantime, I'm doing this:

But, I think we can agree it's not nearly the awesomesauce that it could be.

I'd love to do this for my countertops, but I doubt I can afford it and I'm trying to keep the elbow grease to a dull roar. But aren't they pretty?

image via Stillwater Story

I usually hate dark wood, but I love just about anything paired with white

I really want THIS sink, but have been told by my pseudo-contractor that I have to have a lip on my sink or it won't work with my pre-existing cabinets

image via Pinterest

(and the pinner hit my pet-peeve: they didn't pin from the website but from the opened image. Grr)

So I guess now I'm looking for this:

image via House of Turquoise

I love the open shelving from this kitchen so that's on the list.

I really hope to start this Winter. It depends on a lot, and I have a very, very tiny budget. We'll see how it goes.

In the mean time, I need to find that sink. And those TINS.

I love antlers as much as the next guy.

2011-09-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

But.
Really?
C'mon.

Nearly $1,000 for a pair? Listen guys, you send me a grand, I'll totally mount those bad boys, gold-leaf them and even ship em' priority overnight. Granted, it won't be 22 carat gold-leaf, but who gives a shit? That's crazytalk.

I'm just saying.

I love my new hairs!

2011-07-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

That is all I wanted to say.

Stay tuned for, "my current obsession with friendship bracelets". I'm such a winner ;)

Happy Proud To Be An Independent American Day, Lovelies! xo

Love, Chrissa

How did I get here?

2011-06-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight as I got ready for bed, I went about turning off lights, locking locks, latching doors... I stopped and took a serious look around. In the dimly lit glow of my kitchen looking into my living room, I asked myself, "How did I get here?"

I mean, I know what happened, I know what I willingly gave up, I know what disappeared from my life, I know what I've accomplished (I think). But looking back at these last two years of my life, how that time began, to what it has become now, I am in awe of where it has led me; The people it has led me to.

So much has happened during this time. I have grown, I have learned, I have evolved.

Sometimes, it takes a strong look at a physical place to really see the measure of what you've accomplished.

I went from this:

To this:

It's not much, nor is it by any means "perfect", but it is mine. None of it existed at the time the first photo was taken. I moved in with a bed, my clothes and books. I have found every piece of furniture I own, most of it I've refinished, a lot of it for free...and thankfully I can now look at this room, my home and my life with pride, because I worked for every single minute and every single inch.

But mostly?

I just feel blessed.

I feel like all of the hard decisions I have been faced with, the gut instincts I didn't ignore and all of the choices I made, brought me to this very moment, this place in my life where I can take a look around and feel as though I am right where I need to be. I am surrounded by people that I love and that love me in return. I am treated with kindness and respect. The people in my life do generous and thoughtful things for me, and appreciate me when I do the same for them. I like who I am and the person I have become.

And I guess that's a hell of a lot. More than some might ever get, you know?

Well, and this:

Some might never get that, but, I did :)

Paint, tables, beach blankets, fairies, cows, camels and vampires, oh my!

2011-06-24T16:46:00.000-07:00

I've been slackin' you guys.

But only on you. I realize this isn't much of a consolation, but I knew you would be comforted with the knowledge that every other area of my life is being attended to, but I miss you so! I'd far rather hide in here and play all day (which is not even close to an exaggeration), but I have been busy as all get out making hay and donuts.

I do, however, have a few glimpses into my recent projects. Let's see, I painted my living room and am so happy that's done. The color is Beach Blanket by Valspar. I got the sample during Valspar's free sample promo a few months back:

What do you think? I am SO in love with it. Annnnnd...it reminds me of the color you were helping me try and find back in this post from this photo:

'Cept my new color is a bit more green hued than that room. It has more gray notes to it. It also makes me really happy to end up buying a gallon as a result of their free sample giveaway, to feel like I'm reciprocating not just taking advantage of, if that makes any sense. I'm kind of sappy.

I haven't had time to do much in the way of "staging", not that my living room is one of those spaces that staging would really help, but you work with what'chu got, yanno? I love it 100 times more than I did. At the moment the only thing that drives me bat shit is the TV. :: Le Sigh:: I usually watch stuff on my laptop anyway so I can't really obsess over the small stuff. Well. I can and do, but I try not to.

Remember this post from not too long ago?

So that was then:

and this is now:

I'll post more photos later, but for now, you can see the color at least and some of the pieces I finished. I am still trying to decide if I want to paint my white chair's legs and the table next to it. I bought the table with every intention of painting it until I got the chair and thought it needed a friend with that same shade of dark brown in common. I also realize the scale is a bit off and I have to ignore that until I have a bigger budget. Or any budget for that matter. I've been working with free or dirt cheap pieces and about the only thing I pay for is paint. I will tell you though, since I started using an industrial paint sprayer, it's a brave new world. Which reminds me, you can get your lolz on with this gem:

At least with my ability to laugh at myself, I'll never be truly lonely, right?

So where was I? Oh yes, projects. I also finished my bathroom, which I'll also cover soon, but that went a little like this:

Old bathroom here:

And new/new bathroom here:

I love it SO much more. It feels so much bigger, calmer, more serene. Oh, and in case you're thinking it, no, I am not painting these rooms again, or every 2 years as some of my friends are theorizing. I haven't even blogged my bedroom or kitchen and by the time I get around to it, I will be on its second make-over.

I also took care of these nesting tables that I absolutely adore:

if you love my pillows, you can get your own pair:
Layla Grayce

I love the inlay and planned to paint the inside of them white, similar to my beloved Greenwich tables by oomph that I love so much:

image via oomph's blog

At nearly $1,500 a pop, I will quite merrily settle for my own version for the cost of a quart of paint. Which actually got me the equivalent of 2 gallons of paint in this case - but that's another story and you know better than to get me going on a shiny thing.

Initially I was going to go a bit darker green, especially after seeing, coveting and wanting to replicate Natty's lovely green dresser:

image via Natty by Design

Is that not crazy gorgeous?

Then I decided to let them sit it out a bit, get comfy in their new skin...and now I kind of like them the way they are. Of course, I'll change my mind in a week and want to paint them navy. I wish I were kidding. I painted the inside panels of my IKEA Billy bookcases (what a fiasco that was!) and by the time I had finished I decided maybe my accent color should be navy, not pink so my LR didn't feel so watermelony and estrogen filled. I am NOT changing it. Nope. Nuh uh.

It's hard being a girl ~~that can never just relax and be happy with what she has~~.

Then I knocked out Lilly's chair and it's side table and unfortunately only have the shittiest of before photos for you:

But the after is considerably better:

When I first put it back in its spot, Lilly gave me a look as if to say, "Wait, it's white, am I really allowed to sit on it?"

It went kind of like this:

Not unlike the look my friends give me when they glance back and forth between myself and my white couch. Outside of our little world here where we're all crazy with our slip covered white couches, people think we're kind of insane. You do realize this, don't you?

For now, I gave Lilly a step stool to get up to her bed and she loves it.

I'm still trying to decide how to arrange the room long-term. It's wide open to the kitchen/dining room so I don't have very many options. I thought of somehow partitioning it, or maybe putting up a folding screen, but I'm not too worried about it at the moment. I'm too busy busting out more of these things:

Obsessing over Marian's cows:

images via Mustard Seed Interiors

Wishing my baby a happy 2 year birthday:

coveting cake plates from Bountiful:

images via Beach Bungalow 8

Having my friends Photoshop me doing fun stuff :

by Sharri Z. Scarlett Pencil Designs

Oh, and listening to this on repeat:

I hope you have an awesome weekend.

Love, Chrissa

OH! P to the Ssssss! Who is rip, roaring and ready to go for Sunday?

I set up a Facebook group in which to confine our gushing about Eric Northman, so if you'd like to join just clicky clicky and ask to get in. The posts are private so only members can see them.

The best thing today.

2011-06-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

I know it's not my usual bag, but after watching this on How My Heart Behaves I felt a sudden and intense urge to share it with anyone that I possibly could.

Some things just do that to me.

And now, not only do I want to make a thousand paper cranes, but I want to listen to this song on repeat for eleventy hours.

In Love With Awesome: The Cozy Project Giveaway Winner!

2011-06-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to The Cozy Project giveaway winner from our last post: Julie Hackel

Please send your mailing address and cozy of choice from The Cozy Project's store to chrissalovesya@gmail.com

As a special "Thank you" to The Design Junkie readers, Jen is giving you a coupon code for FREE SHIPPING through next Friday, June 24th, 5PM EST using the code: DESIGNJUNKIE at checkout.

The Cozy Project Elsewheres:

The Cozy Project's Website

The Cozy Project's Etsy Store

The Cozy Project's Facebook

The Cozy Project's Twitter

* If you're interested in having The Design Junkie host a giveaway for your Etsy store or company, please send me an email with a link to your website, store or Facebook page and I will get back to you regarding scheduling and any related information. xo, Chrissa

In Love With Awesome: The Cozy Project (& Giveaway!)

2011-06-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a girl who stalked things.

Her stalking things led her to stalk other things and the stalking upon stalking eventually leads her to...wait, that's not the story I want to tell. But, what I wanted to share did involve a littttle bit of stalking. Let's try that again, shall we?

A long, long time ago ~~which means two years~~ I found a lovely blog called Frolic! and I followed every single post. One day they posted a lil' "Happy Monday" blog which detailed links to lovely things, one of which asked the question, How cute is this? and you know I had to know how cute what was. And "This" turned out to be really, really cute (I even won a giveaway myself!). So began my adoration of The Cozy Project. (Can you tell that I loves me some story telling? I know, I know, I'm not crazy good at it, but still I try).

When I told Jen I was writing a blog about The Cozy Project and asked her if she would mind answering some questions, sending me some photos of her work/workshop and doing a giveaway, she was ripe with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is a pretty big deal around these parts. I absolutely love the photos she sent me and I am sure so will you:

All photos courtesy of Chelsea Fuss of {Frolic}

So much adorable. Not only do these cozies make great coffee insulators, but they also keep your poor fingers from getting chilly when you slide your beer in one.

Or even your Crystal Light flavored Smart Water:

Which might happen to also perfectly happen to match your shirt that day:

And if you're really nutty, like I am, it might even match the artwork in your office:

The matchy-matchy is pretty outrageous in Chrissaland.

When you were little, what did you imagine yourself doing when you "grew up"?

I will pretend for the sake of this question that I am actually a grown up! I have always been interested in lots of things and wanted to try all of them. I have an intense need to be creative... My mom taught me crochet when I was ten or so. I drew a lot and wrote (really ridiculous) poems in high school (and maybe college..... Shhhh. Don't tell. They were terrible!). My fav classes were writing and anything but math! I currently have a "day job" that I enjoy but I always make time to pursue creative adventures. I have dabbled in painting and sculpture. I like to tailor and and tweak my own clothes in order to make them a little unique. If you asked me now what I want to do when I grow up, I would say that I want to move to Greece and run a hotel on the beach! Preferably somewhere on the Isle of Crete. It's a nice little teensy dream!

You have to be so proud of yourself for finding such a wonderful and creative product that people love, what inspired you?

I am excited that people love what I make. It's really validating and motivating for me to continue. I love to make things. I would probably continue even if no one noticed but who isn't motivated by a little positive feedback? It is my preference to make gifts rather than buy them. I have made lots of things. One year for Christmas everyone got an afghan. Yes. An Afghan. Everyone. I think I made 20. They were very simple... but I had just moved to a new town and I didn't know anyone and I think that season of 24 was really good... so Jack Bauer was my best friend and I made a lot of blankets. The first cozy came last year for my boss for Boss's day. Everyone at work was really encouraging and wanted me to make more. How could I not oblige?

As far as what inspires me when I am creating something? I would have to say everything. Colors are really inspiring. I like to find a way to match normally unmatchy colors. I like contrast. A week or so ago I saw this beautiful bouquet of sweet peas and loved the way the colors looked. So I went home and created a cozy that matched. I don't organize my yarn by color. I like to see it all up against each other. I see shapes and I want to replicate them. I love when people request specific things... like a certain flower or animal or they tell me their husband is really into craft beer and could I try to come up with something he would like. (Hops. I stitched Hops onto felt and attached it to a cozy that fit on a pint glass.) Cozies are really fun little projects. There is so much opportunity for creativity. Each one can be different. And because they are smaller projects, I can sit down and in about an hour have a finished item. Almost instant gratification.

What are your favorite products, websites or vices that you simply can't live without?

Coffee with steamed milk!!! Also: I love buttons. I could spend hours shopping for buttons. Lately I have really been drawn to wooden buttons. I am partial to cotton yarn and not just because I am allergic to wool. I love Lion Brand Cotton Ease. My fav cozy that I use myself is made from recycled cotton yarn. It's so soft!! I love Fray Check! Pandora. Etsy. NPR. Double stick tape (not necessarily cozy related but craft related and I do not know what I would do without it). I recently replaced my old cell with a smart phone and we are totally inseparable best mates. (Or perhaps I have an addiction.) The other day I used the screen as a light board to trace shapes for felt pieces. I get so excited when I think of all that I have at my finger tips!! Also, I can keep track of orders and be "present" in my shop even when I am out and about! How great is that?

Pretty great, huh? You know what I think is great? The Cozy Project. I am cheesier than Chester Cheetah...I think I am okay with that.

I'm pretty sure you knew that already though, I'm not getting anything past you guys ;)

Now for the best part, Mr. Giveaway. Hit up Jennie's store and pick out your favorite. Let us know which you loved the most and I'll announce the winner on Friday's post.

You can post an additional entry for the following:
"Liking" The Cozy Project and The Design Junkie on Facebook
Posting a related Tweet
Tagging both pages from your own
Posting a blog linking to this one

Have fun!

The Cozy Project Elsewheres:

The Cozy Project's Website

The Cozy Project's Etsy Store

The Cozy Project's Facebook

The Cozy Project's Twitter

But before you go...

Congratulations to the Emily Finan Illustration giveaway winner from our last post: Cat Christmas

Please send your mailing address and illustration of choice from Emily's Etsy store to chrissalovesya@gmail.com

As a special "Thank you" to The Design Junkie readers, Emily is giving you a 10% off coupon code off anything in the store through this Friday, June 17th, 5PM EST using the code: DESIGNJUNKIE at checkout.

* If you're interested in having The Design Junkie host a giveaway for your Etsy store or company, please send me an email with a link to your website, store or Facebook page and I will get back to you regarding scheduling and any related information. xo, Chrissa

In Love With Awesome: Emily Finan (...and a GIVEAWAY!)

2011-06-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

I first saw Emily Finan's work at Freshtight Design's Emerge and See event.

I wish I could find my photos that I took of her table that night. It was love at first gawk. The detail in the faces of her characters, the color in her prints and the flush of the blush on the girl's cheeks are perfect. I absolutely love her work.

Buuuuut, because I'm stalker, I am going to snag someone else's so you can get an idea of how cute it was:

psst, photoownerperson: Speak up and I will SO give you photo cred

And of course my favorite:

No, really it is.

I own it, seeeeee:

You know the saying, "Photos just don't it justice"?

Well trust me, a photo of my photo doesn't do it justice either.

As with all of my ILWA posts, I has questionz!

When you were little, what did you imagine yourself doing when you "grew up"?

I wanted to do everything! I wanted to be a broadway star, archaeologist extraordinaire, dolphin trainer, journalist, famous artist, among other things. And as a child I used to worry about growing up because I knew I would have to make a choice. In the end, my love of art won out :)

You have to be so proud of yourself for finding such a wonderful and creative product that people love, what inspired you?

I find inspiration in so many things. Art has been a serious passion for a few years now, but it wasn't until last summer that things really started to click. I am studying art at Oakland University, which has a very conceptually focused arts program. Last summer I became very inspired by vintage photography and started a series of Victorian Girl portraits. They really blend the theoretical side of art that I study in college with the illustrative style I have grown to favor. I am also inspired by nature, culture, and language, and pretty colors!

What are your favorite products, websites or vices that you simply can't live without?

I spend all my money on art supplies! It is an addiction. I love trying new materials and media. I recently bought these water soluble graphite crayons that are really interesting. My biggest vice right now is www.everythingisterrible.com It's a compilation of the creepiest youtube videos, some frighten me and others have me laughing for hours.

Because Chrissa is nosy and so are you:

Emily's Studio:

My studio is currently puppy proof so it's a bit funny to look at! And even still, my puppy manages to steal a pencil or two every day. (I can grab them back now before he destroys them.)

Well, I think her studio is totally perfect, and I'm jealous of her retro clock screen saver. Gah, I want a Mac!

So now for the extra fun part. Giiiiiiveaway time.

Take a stroll around Emily's Etsy store and come back and leave a comment letting us know what your favorite print is. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced Monday, June 6th. They may chose between either an 8x10 or 5x7 of any Victorian Girl, a 5x7 of the season or nautical prints.

Emily Elsewheres:

Emily's Website

Emily's Etsy Store

Emily's Flick

Emily's Twitter

Emily's Facebook

* If you would like me to host a giveaway for you or your store on my blog, please just send me an email: chrissalovesya@gmail.com

Little Green Notebook's DIY Sputnik Chandelier

2011-05-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

I tried just posting this on The Design Junkie's Facebook wall, but they have all of their panties in a bunch over there and pegged it as spammy. I threw a mini-tantrum then decided I didn't want to forget to share it with you so here you go:

For the rest of the post, fantastic photos and the nitty gritty click HERE

This is a GENIUS IKEA hack of the Maskros chandelier by The Little Green Notebook. Maybe my favorite IKEA hack of all time. I am seriously in awe.

It's positively brilliant and I cannot WAIT to make my own version. I feel like the DIY part of my skull just cracked open.

I've already added the Le Fleur Cups in Seagreen (100 ct/box) to my Amazon store so I can hit it up later. You can totally buy them HERE

This is not a blog about Aqua. Or Pillows.

2011-05-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is basically a very long letter to and about my friends.

Chances are, you're going to find that very boring. I will not be offended if you opt not to read it.

That being said...

Everyone has something that moves them, that marks their character, makes them who they are. It's the piece of their soul that defines their personality and is the essence of their experience in this world. It is likely what they will be most remembered for, most revered and quite possibly their purpose in this lifetime.

For me, it is making connections with other's souls.

As a child, I did not make friends easily. I changed schools every year, sometimes even mid-year, until sixth grade I was always the new girl, always wondered about, always looked at with a sideways distrust and curiosity. This caused me to be more paranoid about what other people were thinking about me than I likely should have been, but it also caused me to be more outgoing and social than most kids my age. I was open, talkative and eager to learn about someone new and what interested them. Perhaps because I've always regarded my relationships as potentially temporary and transient? I dunno, but, what I do know is that over time I came to realize that making connections with others and maintaining them became very important to me.

There are so many friends from my childhood that I remember fondly that I would leave for a new location expecting never to see again. Thanks to Facebook I have found all but 6 of those that I have searched for but every time I would start in a new place, I would wonder and worry just how much time I had to really get to know someone and make a connection with them. I had no idea what it was like to have a friend you've known for your entire life. Though I had friends who did and I envied them. My earliest friends go back as far as the third grade and considering they are STILL my friends and I talk to them often, I'd say that's pretty damn good. There is a boy that I met once one summer when I was about eleven. His grandmother babysat my little brother and after he came to visit for one week, we remained pen pals with for the next ten years or so and still remain in contact today. I have yet to find my best friends from fourth grade, Crinn, Cindy and Charlotte or the boy that I secretly had a crush on until I passed him the "Do you like me, check yes or no" note (he checked "yes", by the way). I also haven't found my friend, Lisa, from Caro, that I met after I decided she was so pretty and well dressed that she just HAD to be my friend. Or my friend, Elisha that my aunt Marcia nicknamed "Junior Shit" because she didn't want me to be the only one with "Shit" as a nickname.

Insert convo that perfectly illustrates my adolescence:

Me: So, if you call me Little Shit and aunt Linda calls me Dippy, does that make me a Dipshit?
My aunt Marcia: Hahahaahaha...no.
(Hey, I was eleven, this was a serious inquiry)

Aside from those isolated instances, I have managed to find everyone else, or they have found me. I don't wonder what happened to anyone, not even the first boy that I ever fell in love with that broke my heart. He found me last fall and I briefly reunited with him last October. The boy I met at Cedar Point in the line for the Meanstreak and wrote letters with for the next four years? Yep. My first prom date, the first boy I ever kissed, the first boy I ever went on an unchaperoned date with. Even the boy I fell in love with when I was nine who loved that I was content just to sit next to him on a tractor while he baled hay, is accounted for. The girls I missed my first bus with, my best friends from my first high school and even from my second high shool. My large group of girlfriends that are all now Mommies that I met through other friends who knew other friends who...(you get the idea) and ten years later, we're all still together. We still love each other and we're all still close and now our children are friends with each other. I still have them all. And if you're my family, you will wonder why they aren't enough, why I could possibly want more. "Don't you have enough friends?" they ask me, and you know what? I don't even know what that means. What determines enough?

Six years ago I started blogging on Myspace. Actually, I started commenting on Myspace, the blogging came later. Over the course of the next three years of writing and reading, phone calls and radio shows, girl party weekends, blogger conventions, baby showers, pool parties, weddings and more crazy stories than there are Thai restaurants in Seattle, I have met some of the greatest people that I have ever known. Writers, painters, photographers, actors, singers, thinkers, scientists, philosophers, surfers, storytellers, mothers, fathers, friends. At first, you're just bantering back and forth over the most seemingly lame stuff, then you're calling each other whenever you can fit in a phone date, next you're making plans to meet, soon after you try to figure out how quickly you can afford to see them again because airfares a bitch and before you know it you find yourself six or seven years later with a bucket of extended close friends that live all over the world that you haven't met just once or twice, but that you talk to every day, that you're invested in, that you care about, that you pray for and just absolutely and totally love. And I'm not talking about some freaky Catfish stuff either.

You have disagreements, falling outs, mutual deleting from various social networking sites, forgiveness and re-adding of various social networking sites. You've learned about each other, from each other, you've met each other's families (who now, after about your third trip, are finding this whole thing a bit less weird). We've introduced our friends to our other friends and have managed between us to amass a group of mutual friends that is larger than I could possibly explain to you without getting the side eye. Hell, I poached one of my very best friends from a guy's Facebook wall that we both met on a dating site, I have no shame. I introduced her to all of my friends and then she introduced me to hers and between us we could start our own shopping mall. Some of the most amazing women and best girl friends that I have ever had are nestled in Atlanta and only being able to see them once a year gets pretty difficult sometimes, but it's the punch you roll with when you make friends that don't live in your city. Or even your own state.

I have collected a group of the most amazing and fantastic people I have ever encountered and have the equivalent of town hall meetings several times a week so that we can all keep up. We don't always agree, and at times because of our varied backgrounds our personalities will clash, but what we all have in common is that we appreciate the human connection we share together as a unit. Our soul's are connected.

And because now everyone else has most assuredly stopped reading this except for them, I want you to know, this post is for you.

It totally started out,

"Dear best people I've have ever known,

You keep me sane. You make me feel important. I'm not worthy.

Love me."

But you know me better than that. I get down to the end of this and I wonder what in the hell I am even talking about. But, what I do know is:

This is my first ~~word stuffs~~ blog in over two years
This is why I stopped ~~word stuff~~ blogging

And to you, my friends, what I really want to say is that I love you. You inspire and motivate me every single day. Your support drives me and compels me to be a better person, to find the best part of myself and share it with others, as you share the best parts of yourselves with me. You have shown me that throughout all of my life, and the years of loneliness that I had no one, I would go back and live it over gain ten times over to be able to spend the rest of my life being supported by the likes of you. Your kindness, your strength, your tenacity and of course, your grace, makes me prouder of you than you might ever realize.You make me want to be the best part of myself not only because I should, but because I want to return on your investment, to make you proud of me.

Everyone has something that moves them, that marks their character, that makes them who they are. It's the piece of their soul that defines their personality and is the essence of their experience in this world. It is likely what they will be most remembered for, the most revered.

For me, it is you.

Your friendships have marked my character, you have helped me become who I am. You are the piece of me that defines my experience in this world. I have brought people together, I have mattered. I have touched people and got to stand back and watch them touch each other (don't touch that, Elrod). I will be remembered for who I was, regardless of what I still have yet to do. I have entered and become part of the lives of people that I might never have had the chance to meet, for I have been lucky.

I just want to thank you, from the core of my being, for making my life better for being part of it.

For me, the most meaningful experiences have been those that I've shared with you, my connection with your soul. It means the world to me that you chose to connect with mine.

This is an open letter to all of my friends, but especially dedicated to my Havenites.

Things I love Today

2011-05-10T19:54:00.000-07:00

You probably don't know this, I mean, why would you, but this blog was almost called "Things I Love Today". I really loved the name and my original intention (because I am shameless enough to admit it) was to have a website that would generate revenue. I thought "Love" and "Things" would be quite searchable. Hahahaha...silly Chrissa. I also didn't realize that my love affair with all things design blogish would overrule any of my previous affinities for making the dollars. Besides all of that, it's irrelevant to this post. Anykitten, after that, I played with "In Love With Awesome" and even named my site that, made a lil' logo and everything:

(yes, that'd be me)

Handmade, duh. But it just didn't feel right, as much as I tried to to "own it" so I inevitably killed the FB page, hid the blog (I still have it) and whipped up Stuff Chrissa Loves. It had a decent first showing. When I left her, she had a nice 284 like base. The only problem with that, no one really cares about what Chrissa loves, because besides her own friends, no one knows who Chrissa even is until they've decided they love (or hell, even like) what she likes. It was inwardly polarizing for me and I became obsessed with finding a new name. I felt as though I couldn't write again until I had worked that part out. I was so wrapped up in my so-called identity, that I just stalemated and did nothing. I still haven't had the kuhunas to kill her off because I have links to snag from her. One night, I was having a very deep conversation with a friend about ~~garage sales~~ life and was heavily contemplating what this site was going to be about. I hadn't been able to write since abandoning my blog on Myspace (the blogs are still there collecting dust, having no good place to put them I just let them sit) and I didn't want to be isolated to just furniture B&A's, photos of beach huts, or you know, rugs and curtains that I think are pretty.

How do you convey your total obsession with something that you instantaneously fall in love with, become immediately obsessed over and stalk every inch of, even when it might be a person and their outlook on life? Speaking of, thank you, Design Blogs, for giving me that. Never before in my life has it been so socially acceptable to peek into people's homes, offices, bedroom closets and such, prior to now. It means a lot and I deeply appreciate it. Buuut, I'm digressing. Where was I? Oh yes, so I knew using the word "Design" was a catch 22. On one hand, it'd get me more Twitter followers because people just do blanket searches on "Design" but at the same time, it lumps me. On the other hand, how else could I truly articulate my junkie status without using it? Then I decided I was over thinking it and to just STFU and here we are. I decided to make In Love With Awesome a series of blog posts including someone/thing that I think is awesome, and highlight the shit out of it. Things I Love Today will just be random posts of...well...not to be too obvious here, things I love today.

I know, I know, I just spent 3 paragraphs saying, "My name is the Design Junkie because I'm obsessive and when I like stuff sometimes I'm probably going to gush about it" and there you go. Now, if I can only figure out how to slap up my Pinterest blogs. I was going to do each post with "How Pinteresting: Insert Pinboard name here" but Pinterest themselves stole my idea (because we're in each other's headz of course) so now I have to call it something else. Maybe Pinjunkie? Pinaholic? Pinnerific? Wait, I think I saw that last one somewhere. I know Pinlove is taken. Let's think about it for a minute and discuss. I'm leaning toward Pinjunkie, you know, to keep with the theme.

Oh, yeah, if you're on Pinterest and would like to follow me: The Design Junkie on Pinterest.

Feel free to leave your own Pinterest URL in the comments.

Moving along, I'm glad I got that out, and for those of you that have asked me the very questions answered above, you're welcome. Really guys though, I'm not that interesting, I promise, I just talk a lot of smack and use too many words.

SOOOOOOOO...Things I Love Today:

Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster

Which I found after I found/this girl found me on Twitter and I thought she was funny and pretty and decided to research* her other internet stuffs. She writes a blog I read until I got to the very beginning. She loves shoes that are amazing and look like this:

So her and I will be friends someday. Bet.

While checking into Getglue for Glee, I noticed the girl that commented on my "What about prom, Blane?" quip was reading a book with an awesome cover. I totally judge books based on the cover and have yet to go wrong so added it to my Goodreads and my Amazon store:

You can buy it here

If you'd like to follow me on Goodreads Clicky Clicky

And then somehow I found this blog with this banner:

and actually stopped what I was doing to drop some ohhmmms because it made me so happy. Like, truly. I listened to this song, which I loved, and then I "liked" that too.

Side note: I really have some rather compelling arguments for the love button.

Everything about it relaxes me, and no, it's not all the white. I dunno, her words, her photos, her energy...I can sense it, I can feel it. I know that sounds craaaaazy town, but well, hello my name is Chrissa and I'm weird. Pleazedtameetcha.

I wandered on and I found Megan Anthology on Tumblr, with this photo:

Navy, white and orange?

Well hell, yes please.

esss: The Candelabra is Dunes & Duchess, and I pinned this lamp from their website last week (thanks, A.H!)

Back to Megan...I find her Twitters and this photo:

and then this one:

And now I love her, too. See how it works? Nutter, I tells ya. Crazy, loving everything, nutter.

I find this blog with this photo that makes me want to find mah man and run away to a vineyard that has nothing in it except for grapes, a picnic table, some wine and a chandelier hanging from a tree. That's all it needs. And maybe a blanket. And some candlelights. That's all it needs. Well, and maybe some fruit, but that is it. That's all it needs.

And hell, it doesn't even need to be a vineyard or have any grapes. It can be a hayfield. Wait. My allergies. Soybeans. That's all it needs.

Finally, when I've made sure to pin all of my finds, sub all my new blogs, follow all of my new peeps and "Like" all there is to like, I close my tabs, snuggle down with my fuzzy blankie and start my nightly repins. I am now following Peggy Wong's Pin Boards, the author of Blue Pool Road and pinned to her board "Just Because" I find my evening's gem...I'll leave you with my final, and favorite of the night.

Vast.

I've spent a solid 30 minutes searching for who owns it which is a month in real life time. I want to purchase the print and have it printed on canvas because my bathroom needs it. Or my bedroom. One of them. If anyone recognizes it or knows who took it, holler.

Now that you get the idea, expect more of these. I thought I should post a PSA in case the ADD overload is too "Woo shiny thing!" for you to take, in which case, I'm not offended. I get it. I mean heck, this is just covering my last hour ;)

*editors note: by research I always mean stalk

In Love With Awesome: Mabley Handler Interior Design

2011-05-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Someday, I'm going to write a really long post about Alicia Paulsen, how Posie Got Cozy, my friend, Adrienne, and how, just as Dorothy woke up from the tornado to find her gray world filled with color, I, too, woke up one day to a bright new world filled with new people and beautiful things that I had never realized existed.

At least not virtually, anyway. But that day isn't today.

No. Today, I want to introduce a new series in which I highlight something I am in love with. Because I don't just love things a little bit. You see, Junkies? They can't just have a tiny bit of their fix, they need it in excess, and I am no different. When I find something and fall in love with it, I want it in piles, in buckets, in excess and most likely even potentially lethal amounts.

And I want it now! (Ha, I sound like that chubby little blueberry chic from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory-but if you were to ask any of my friends, they'd tell you that is exactly what I sound like when I'm all about something). So, because this is mine, and because I can do whatever I want with it, I am going to indulge myself each and every Friday (and hopefully you will, too) with awesome things that I am in love with.

Because caring is sharing. You know?

For my first post, I had to start with someone(s) super-duper special to me, and pair it with a teensy-tiny story (you guys know how I love to tell stories)...

Once upon a time, in ~~a land far, far away~~ Michigan, there was a girl who became obsessed with design blogs, white, and various shades of aqua. So much in fact, that this girl would find any and all who shared photos on blogs of various shades of white and aqua, who designed things using various shades of white and aqua and eventually even those who just liked the colors of white and aqua. She would hunt then down, stalk their internets and fearlessly tell them she was in love with them hoping they would like her too, and if she was lucky not file a restraining order. One day, she met a fine blog that told the tale of a pool lounge, with shocking shades of peach (melon, pumpkin, orange?) with her beloved aqua. Well, this had never occurred to the crazy girl obsessed with white and aqua. She became fascinated and obsessed and decided to hunt down the creator of such magic in any way she could. She stalked their Twitters, she liked their Facebook, she subscribed to their website, found their blog, and finally, after right clicking and saving all of their images for inspiration, she was happy.

Hahahaha....And then one day she also realized she was a doofus and just emailed these amazing designers of the aqua and pumpkin (or orange or melon) and said, "You guys are awesome! I'm in love! You're super duper spectacular, Mabley Handler Interior Design!" and the rest, as they say, is history. (Yeah, so it kind of didn't go exactly like that, but who cares? It's just a story).

Thus, I only find it fitting to start you off with photos of the space that hooked me (and spearheaded a wonderful friendship with one of my favorite people, Austin Handler), the pool Lounge (Hampton Designer Showhouse 2010):

Right? I mean, seriously, riiiiight? Remind me sometime to show you the lamps that I made because I tried adding this same touch to my own rooms. The result was cute, but mostly just funny.

Now I must admit, I do not love my friend based on design ascetics alone. If he was daft, pretentious and not-nice, I'd still love his work, but truthfully? Austin is one of the nicest people that I've ever met ~~that I haven't actually met yet.~~ When I emailed him to tell him I was starting this series, I told him I had some questions I'd love for him to answer and that if he could take a photo of his workspace it'd be just swell. His response? "Do you want staged, posed, a flurry of activity, candid? You just let me know what you'd like because I can totally do it". Spoken like a true designer. Spoken like a true friend.

I had to keep them all. They were just too darling. That, and I wanted one with his friendly smiley face as well as the one with the "flurry" and of course the one that best showcases the fantabulous built-ins.

Pretending we actually got to have a little sit down, I had questions, because well, I'm a nosy girl (get used to it, each post in the series has them). So let's have a sitty-sit.

When you were little, what did you imagine yourself doing when you "grew up"?

When I was little, I wanted to be an astronaut (what 9-year-old boy didn’t?!). And the funny thing is, I didn’t realize that I was even remotely creative until I was in college…I started taking photography classes, and I love it…And that somehow led me into graphic design and I loved that so much that I decided to become a graphic designer after college (even though my major was in journalism). And when I met Jennifer and we decided to leave our jobs in New York City and move out to the Hamptons and launch an interior design firm, I still had planned to remain a graphic designer…I figured that I would design the business cards, build the website, photograph the projects, but still maintain my freelance graphic design business. But after a year or so, we started getting more and more busy with the interior design work, and Jennifer was pulling me into project after project…And before I realized it, I was an interior designer more then I was a graphic designer. I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years now, and it sometimes still surprises me where I ended up! But looking back, even though I never really thought that I cared about interior design, I always wanted my dorm room and apartments to look nice. If I could find the bed I wanted, I would just build one. I was also always interested in architecture…When I lived in New York, I would often grab my camera on a beautiful spring/summer day, and roam the city taking photos of the buildings. And when I think back, when I was boy, I can remember a time when I drew up a floor plan to the house I envisioned myself living in one day…It was very modern, with a double-height open living room/great room, a catwalk, and a large metal spiral staircase. Now, I don’t think that I’ll even live in a house like that (I like traditional shingle-style houses too much!), but to this day, I remember the passion I had while drawing that plan, and how important it was for me to get all of the details right, and to make sure that the catwalk and the spiral staircase flowed well and fit properly into the open space that it was in. So, maybe I really did want to be an interior designer after all, without fully knowing it.

What inspires you?

I am constantly inspired by visionary people and the things that they create, whether it’s one of Wes Anderson’s quirky, beautiful films, Richard Avedon’s stunning, timeless photographs or Michael Schwab’s distinct retro travel style graphic art posters. When I see something that resonates with me, it grabs a hold of me in my gut, and makes when want to design and create, and to achieve that perfect moment when you have created something that is as great as you can possibly make it be. And I’m inspired by the works of other designers as well…It’s amazing when we think about how to design a room or a piece of furniture…And then stop to think about all of the other ways different designers might have achieve a variety of different results.

If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?

I would love to be remembered for creating things that made people happy…One of the more satisfying feelings that Jennifer and I have had professionally is when we have created beautiful interiors for a client, and they walk in and see it for the first time, and are so happy that they can barely express what they are feeling. THAT right there is a drug…That’s a high we want to get back to again and again! And speaking of inspiration, that feeling is what inspires us to constantly challenge ourselves, to push our creativity, and to always be on the lookout for new things that inspire us.

What are your favorite products, websites or vices that you simply can't live without?

Some of my favorite products are furnishings that I know I may never have in my life…I am very attracted to industrial style lighting and furniture, the kind of things you would see in a really cool Tribeca loft. But that doesn’t necessarily fit into my life now in small shingle-style house with a wife and family of two boys, four dogs, and two cats. So, for now, I’m content that it will be an affair…A flirtation from afar, most likely never to be realized. But hey, I can dream, right…?

Also, I can’t live without Dr Pepper. At the end of a long day, when we sit down for a delicious home-cooked dinner, a nice, frosty Dr Pepper can taste like liquid gold strained through a hangman’s noose.

Speaking of gold...

(look at those walls!)

(all images property of Mabley Handler Interior Design)

But my favorite spaces? My very FAVEoritest?

The Mabley Handler's private residence.

WANTWANTWANTWANT!

Aren't they just the cutest? Forget that they're not old enough, I think that they need to adopt me. Why don't y'all get on board the convincing train and just help me out. We just need for Jennifer and Austin to realize that if they adopted me they would never have to hire someone to watch their boys for date night ever again. Nanny schmanny.

If you think you like Mabley Handler as much as I do ~~(totally not possible)~~ then feel free to stalk them in numerous ways:

Mabley Handler Interior Design

Mabley Handler Design's Facebook Page

Follow Mabley Handler on Twitter

Designing the Hampton's Blog

Whoo Shiny thing!

2011-04-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how your brain works, but I will be thinking about, say, the color white. White makes me think of snow, which makes me think of cold, which makes me think of getting warm, which makes me think of how to do that, which makes me think of fireplaces, which makes me think of bricks, which makes me think of mantles and the next thing I know, I am Googling "white fireplace mantles". See how that goes?

I know Alaina from Live Creative Yourself's post was supposed to be about clothes.

I know, I know, I KNOW. But.

:::Le sigh:::

I mean, who can concentrate after that? Not this girl.

Damn you, J. Crew. You so did that on purpose. I love the cardi, but pair it with a hot guy with a camera in his hand, a confused look on his face and some (seemingly) unintentionally messy hair on his head and then I'm all, "I want to see hims fotos!"

The next thing I know, I'm stalking Mark's photography, Tumblr and have already Googled him, within the span of 22.3 seconds. I mean, we have a tattoo on the exact same spot on our right inner wrist, that means something, doesn't it?

Nah. I totally doesn't.

I guess I'll have to try another angle.

Feel free to suggest other angles.

And by other angles, please know that I am totally kidding. He's married. Don't worry, he won't need a restraining order. While considering other angles and Googling, I found Deidre Zahl Design. She is this adorable designer and now I am totally in love with HER! I know, "Whoooo shiny thing!" but anywayz, she is friends with Mark and his wife and went to their wedding and. His wife? Yep. You guessed it. Totes adorable. I know some people are all, "Man, his wife is cute too?" but not me.

I'm the kind of gal that sees someone adorable with someone adorable and gets teary because I'm so gosh darn happy for them. If you want to be weird like me and find her, she has a clothes blog. Which means, she has adorable clothes, too.

(See what I mean?)

Yes. I might be crazy. But they're all so cute.

The end.

Well I'll be darned.

2011-04-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

Nearly (8 years?) ago, I bought this antique armoire thingy at a garage sale for $25.

That was pretty steep for me. I'm damn cheap. But, since I had been on my way to the lake, saw the garage sale sign and pulled an immediate U and there it was, I thought it was kind of kismet-we were meant to be together. I called my Dad and had him come meet me with his truck and he stored it for the next two years until I could work on it and knew where to put it.

It was missing the top and instead there was just a square, gaping hole. I always wondered what had originally been there. It was dark green with these lovely floral decals on the door fronts. Somewhere I have photos of it before I painted it black, if I find it, I will post an update. Sadly, I couldn't see how to save them and not paint it. It was in bad shape and rather wobbly. My first attempt at painting was a giant bucket of fail. I was attempting to match all of my bed room furniture pieces by spray painting them all black. Ew.

As soon as I moved into my now-home I took the time to reinforce it, sand it down, and carefully hand paint it a lovely shade of aqua. I also made a make-shift top out of foam core lined with my favorite fabric (no judging!) and I swapped out the original hardware in favor of glass knobs.
I know, how shocking.

I've always wondered about the person who originally made it. I assumed it was a one-of-a-kind piece. I wondered what the top looked like, if there were others in a series, exactly how old it was, etc. Now, I might never know the answer to all of those questions, but I do know that it is not the only one.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the exact same piece on Real Simple today. Not that it was as shocking as me learning that poor Pluto is no longer a planet, but it was pretty up there.

And there it is. If you look closely, you can see the same square hole, but even with the white blending in, I can just barely make out what the top looks like. The thing I love about furniture and houses the very most, is the story they tell. It fascinates me and makes me feel connected to other people and their lives. I'm not exactly sure why, but it moves me. What I think is funny, I nearly painted it white instead. But, a girl can only have so much painted white furniture.
Or can she...

Creating A Cottage On A Hill Project: The Bathroom

2011-03-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

So. I had some big plans for this post.

Oh, who am I kidding, they were only mediocre. There was going to be some photos of my favorite "rooms for more than just soap" and inspiration images for my current bathroom ~~renovation~~ re-do (renovation implies walls being knocked out and that I'm replacing my shower with the cast iron tub of my dreams. Which totally isn't happening). And yes, you read that right, even as I'm posting this now, I am working on changing my bathroom yet again. I blame House of Turquoise and Austin Handler for constantly filling my head with more awesome than I can tolerate. Maybe if they'd just cut it out I could be happy with what I got. But no.

So yeah, big plans. I had them. And fireworks. But now I'm feeling lazy and distracted by American Idol. Which is funny, because I haven't watched a season since Kelly Clarkston kicked all that booty. And yeah, let's be honest, I totally didn't have any fireworks.

I guess you'll just have to settle for some lame ol' B&A's.

First, I had to suit up in the "uniform". Now, don't knock the Ralph Lauren shirt from 1999. I got that sucker at Bloomingdales on my first trip to NYC. It was on the clearance rack and at $11.00 was the only thing I could afford. The overalls bear the paint color of just about every room I've ever done. I love being able to just wipe my hands on my pant legs.

See what I mean?

before:

Note: they had not 1, but 2 wallpaper borders up(!)

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

I really don't feel like I did that much. Just pretty much just undid all the awful that had been done, cleaned like my life depended on it, painted from floor to ceiling, and added towels and a shower curtain.

So what's next? Thanks to (again) my darling, Erin from House of Turquoise, I saw this shower curtain and had to have it. And not only did I have to have it, but I had to re-do the entire bathroom to welcome it properly:

But, it needs some friends.

I love this light, I'd love it more in a polished silver or aluminum:

via Shades of Light

What I really want though, is 2 of these hung as sconces:

via Shades of Light

So far I can only find them in outdoor lighting.
Is there any reason I can't use it indoors?

I really would love a mirror like this one, but it's not big enough.

I found one at Home Goods that I like though that is only $29 so I think I'll get that one.

via Brass Binnacle
(It's only $69!)

Since I've still got you here, how about I share some goals?

I'm aiming for something that kind of looks like this:

and if I COULD knock out a wall?

This would be on like Donkey Kong:

And what the heck, you guys have stuck it out this whole blog sitting through my rambling,
I'll give you some fireworks after all:

Bathroom by Mabley Handler Interior Design

Can you say yum?!

Aqua owns me.

2011-03-05T08:23:00.000-08:00

And presently, I'm trying to hunt down this color or its likeness because I am going to repaint my living room and kitchen the same color. It has been two years. I've waited long enough.

Be a doll, and if you have a link to a lovely, aqua room that I can use for paint chip inspiration, hook a sister up.

Happy Saturday!

A Lovely Little Batch of B&A's

2011-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

I seem to have misplaced a rather ginormous pile of Before & After photos of projects that I've done. I kept meaning to post them but you know what they say about the best laid intentions? Well, I'm hoping you do so you can tell me - because the only thing I know is that I can't find those darn photos.

So while you're waiting for me to find my brain where it seems to be nestled next to a plate of no-no brownies (which it totally isn't since my diet doesn't even presently allow brownies), I thought at the very least I could slap up some pictures of what I have just hanging out on my laptop.

Don't get too excited, it's not that awesome.

I got this lovely sewing table from our neighbor's garage sale for $7.00. I had wanted one SO bad that I had been praying for weeks (and I mean literally PRAYING, like on bended knee stuff, people) for one to pretty much just fall in my lap. I had also been praying to find a cheap dog crate for my Lills and she threw that baby in for free. Voila! See, things like this are proof that Jesus likes me and wants me to be happy. That, or I'm just a spoiled brat.

Just look at that thing. It's in mint condition, it came with all of it's parts AND it stood up quite wonderfully to turquoise Painters Touch. Win.

So this poor damn table. It is among the many things that I just couldn't make up my mind about (more on that subject later). I can't find it's original photo at the moment, but trust me when I say it was ugly-as-shit-brown. Like, not even close to not being atrocious. I paid $10 for it at The Habitat For Humanity Restore...or was it $5.00? Either way, it didn't cost enough to make me feel guilty for repainting it more than once to appease myself.

annnd now (ignore the non-matchy pillow situ)

Oh, and lookie, I found the yuck factor
(see, told you it was ugly)

This is a bedside table that I bought to be this unmatched matched set.When I was in my (brief) aqua and yellow stage, I painted it. Since then it's been painted again (turquoise this time) and for it's final presentation it's going white. Stay tuned. Oh yeah, Habitat for Humanity, $5.00.

PS. Eventually I WILL learn that if I just paint everything white, or aqua to begin with, I can save myself a lot of freaking hassle, not to mention time and paint, if I stop painting stuff on a whimsy mood swing. I swear I'll never learn.

I got the other-side-of-the-bed's table at a garage for...free. I was looking at it and the home owner hollers over, "If you want it, take it, I just want it gone". I didn't bother telling her that I was only staring at it because my family (and I'm sure most of yours) had the same matching set to it when I was growing up. But what the hell, I'll just spray paint it. Easy peasy.

Ta-Da

Do I ever loves me some glass knobs and pulls. And Milk Glass.

And hey, I'll throw in my "goofy lamp experiment" for good measure.

It's for sale. But the shade is crap. Note to self: Mod Podging a lampshade doesn't work. Spray mount or bust. Man, I was SO into yellow that month, sheesh.

Alrighty peeps, I'm outta here. I have to go track down photos of things that I didn't paint yellow. I'll leave you with a photo of my pretty, pretty princess, Lilly. She matches, what, with her yellow and turquoise and all. it'd be a shame to leave her out.

All You Need Is Love.

2011-03-03T06:52:00.000-08:00

How many times do you find yourself reading a subscription, then "Ooh! Shiny thing!" and you're onto another shiny thing, and then yet another until an hour later you're wondering where your last hour went?

I was reading the latest Design*Sponge post, which let me peek inside this lovely little apartment belonging to this adorable little couple, of Harold & Jane - Handmade Vintage Jewelry, and what struck me wasn't so much how awesome everything looked, but more importantly, how I felt while snooping around their crib.

Not everything blantantly matches or seems like it was part of some well thought-out design. On the contrary, the only thing that every thing seems to have in common, is that it appears loved. Well, that is the most lovely design, isn't it? Each item in their home seems carefully chosen, touched...smiled at. I picture them walking around this apartment affectionately regarding the objects that make up their home. They are reminded of trips they took together, the recall the beginning of collections, they make plans for to go together next.

Now, this mind rambling might mostly be because I'm freaking nosy. But aren't all shelter blog junkies? Heck, we're all the kind of sort that love the dark nights of winter when the leaves have fallen off of the trees so they no longer obstruct our views of people's living rooms. We try to be stealthy, we imagine getting caught craning our necks for a better look, "Oh, don't worry, we don't want to see your panties. No ma'am, we just want a closer look at that armoire". But I digress...

So I'm oggling photos of trips, snow, couches, etc. and then I decide to read. Wow, are these guys for real? Is this guy for real? His words made me cry, and not just because he said lovely things, but because their photos illustrated that they are lovely things. It made me feel lovely. And hopeful.

It made me feel hopefully lovely.

"Sitting here typing away on the now famous Chester I look around and realize just how blessed we are. However, it’s not our material wealth that blows me away. Rather it is the love and support of our family, and the legacy that they have given us through their hard work and time that humbles me. It is the knowledge that I am well and truly loved by my wife, by my parents, by her parents. It the deep seated faith that even if our apartment burned to the ground tomorrow we would be alright because we have each other. The beautiful things in our house are just a reminder of the larger truth: we are loved.

All you need is love...." - Ellias Carson

Amen.

It's funny to me the things you see just by looking at a photo of someone's butterfly collection, or a vignette of dishes, a grouping of mirrors. It's beautiful what you can feel.

Looking into the life of two people I don't even know, I found myself so happy that they found each other. I prayed for their future. I thanked God that they are so blessed. I was grateful to be a bystander to it even if in this electronic way. And my point isn't to really drive home that I might be a crazy stalker, I'm totally not, but to highlight that we are all surrounded by beauty. We are immeasurably lucky even if only as subtly as reading a shelter blog in the morning because it makes us happy. It connects us. We touch each other. Someone's brain invented Chevron. Someone else's painted it on that floor. Another someone fell in love with it and shared it with a friend. Now, Chevron lovers unite. The fact that every day we have the ability to affect one another, to connect with our souls and send out positive energy to people we likely won't ever meet?

Well I think that's pretty darn kick ass stuff.

(aren't they beautiful?)

To see more of their awesome, check out their website: Orange Juice-etc.com

Get busy.

2011-03-02T13:49:00.000-08:00

image via Wild & Precious

Seriously. I need to get on the ball. Like, whoa.

To Do:

~~Find a free-lance gig that I can do from home.~~

Well, okay, that's a tad bit unrealistic. I'll come back to that one.

Process photography. Now.

Finish Tater's photos. Mail them to April. Oh, don't forget to include her ornaments.

Mail out Pay It Forward recipients

Set post dates for upcoming blogs. All 10 of them.

Photograph and list milk glass.

And those silver platter thingies.

Wash the couch covers.

Repaint that cute little table you just bought.

Make the pom-poms, while you're at it, hang those bad boys.

Paint that tall storage thing that goes over the toilet in the bathroom.

Don't forget to take B&A's (!)

Make those book page butterflies.

Mop the floors. Scratch that. You should prolly hand scrub them. The grout needs to be disinfected.

Finish the seat cushions on dining set. ~~List it on Etsy No, it's too big.~~Craigslist.

Make and mail stuff to Sharri.

Plan BB's baby shower

Finish reupholstering that ottoman or settee or whatever you call it.

Repaint the bedside tables (for the 3rd time (*&$#@!!)

Make the fairy door.

List the gnome terrariums on Etsy.

Make the girl's plaques.

Mail them.

Finish B's bedroom re-design.

Take photos.

Paint your bedroom

List those lamps on Etsy. All of them.

Paint living room.

Wait. First track down the paint color you saw on BHG. Ask for help (blog action?)

Yes. All of those lamps, I didn't stutter.

Paint the bathroom.

Put up the new shower curtain.

In case I forget to tell you, buy paint

Oh, and before I go, I want to give a shout-out to Shabby Blogs. I have always been a fan of their site, but finally had myself a little sit down shopping spree and snagged and grabbed all of the free awesome I could get my grubby little paws on. Headers, background images, adorable comment icons, blicky things and other adorable swag. (Did I mention, it's all free?) You can also add them on Facebook by clicking HERE

I mean seriously, how cute is this?! It's a DEER!

Creating A Cottage On A Hill Project: The Living Room

2011-02-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have very specific ideas about what I want, and what I want to be surrounded by.

Some of these ideas are timeless, and a quick glance through my Pinterest boards gives you a pretty good idea of what really gets me going.

I love how laid back and beachy this room makes me feel:

image via House of Turquoise

Not only do I looove the aqua, but it's such a bright color that it offsets all of the white perfectly and all of those windows makes this room so very airy. I absolutely love it:

image via BHG

The girly-girl in me adores this room. The Layla Grayce obsessed stalker loves that I could complete it entirely from my favorite store. The realistic mother of a 10 year old and a little doggie with black hair and muddy paws on the regular knows better.

image via BHG

Sometimes, I get lured in by a dramatic pop of color that just sends me soaring. Black does that to me a lot. I love this room with its Chevron rug and the light turquoise tufted ottoman/coffee table. It is so ridiculously chic and classy:

image via Apartment Therapy

You get the idea, my point being, I had strong notions about what I wanted to do when I first "met" my latest home project. When I started My first goal was only to slap some paint on the walls, and get a couch. I had absolutely NO furniture.

Armed with some basic necessities, I got started:

(I LIVE in my painting overalls. Paint on my hands?

Easy peasy, I just wipe em' on my pants and keep on truckin')

This was my blank canvas:

The first order of business, change out that dreadful carpet and paint. And curtains.

My boss graciously donated a couch and I was on my way

This was the first location of my ginormous fish tank. I didn't really want it to be the focal point of the room. I also hated that I have this rinky dinky TV centered under my lovely little windows.

View of the side of the living room and a partial of the "dining room" that one day would become my office. We'll get to that another day...

Then I finally got my white, slipcovered, IKEA Ektorp couch that I wanted do desperately. A pull-out for guests, listed for $850, I got it for free off of Craigslist because it had a tear in the slipcover. I paid $50 for a new one and voila.

(Side bar: I'll come back later and discuss the piece to the right in a future Before & After blog. It was my first big project that I sold for way less than I should have. Nice little lesson about time and labor vs. original purchase investment on that one.)

The next incarnation was inspired by David Bromstad of Color Splash which you can read more about HERE

I wanted to try and re-create something like this:

But instead, looked more like this:

All kinds of fail. Yeah. My couch was supposed to be dyed navy, not PURPLE. This was even after two attempts at soaking (that process is its own blog). Here's another awful view of the carnage:

I had been so excited, and then...I hated it.

So I tolerated the scene of disaster for as long as I could and then broke down and bought another white slip cover for the couch and ottoman.That "blurple" set is for sale BTW, if anyone is interested. I painted the round table white, and it got...well...better.

Better.

Still not totally happy though, but, I sometimes wonder if I'll ever stop wanting it to be better. I look around and see achievements, but also, so many flaws.

...And here's where we are today:

And I had to single this last one out as one of my favorite projects this year, now that it's done. I got it free from CL and it was an awful brown and green (you'll see in a future B&A extravaganza blog). I then painted it to look like this:

But it felt too off to me. Too matchy. Not beachy at all.

This, ladies and gents, was also when I realized my true obsession is for Aqua, not turquoise

(Insert collective shock)

And ta-da! Now, I love it. Also, notice the deer antler candle stick holder? Christmas present from my Lori from Z Gallerie. She knows me SO well.

So that's my living room. It's come a long way, baby. And hell, since these latest photos were taken, I've even made some more improvements. I'll save them for another day. Some things that I plan to do though:

That big ass black TV has to go. Ick.
The table to the left that I got free from the vintage store lady that loves me, totally needs to be white washed. Though, I loves me some aged gray wood.
The table the right of my "Nest" chair, I am thinking of painting it aqua, the same as in the inside of the cabinet in that last photo, what do you think?

Suggestions are always welcome. I value your opinions.

Up Next: The Kitchen, Bathroom, Office, Workspace, Blake's Room and My Room.

Creating A Cottage On A Hill Project: The Backstory

2011-02-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

For those of you that would like to hang around, "after the blog show", I've been asked how I found myself living in a "house in a basement" so I thought I'd give you a little history lesson:

In May 2008, I had been planning on moving into a new, furnished condo. I decided not to renew my lease for the condo we had been living in for the better part of the past four years and sold pretty much all of my furniture on Craigslist. I put all of my son's toys, my book cases along with its extensive book collection in storage until the end of summer when our condo would be ready and moved into a spare wing of a friend's Chateau (quite literally). The day the movers arrived I had to pick up my five year old cat, Kiah, from the vet. I had her spayed and while she was unconciousI also had her de-clawed so she would not destroy my friend's furniture. She died that night. She had a rare disease called Cardio Myopathy which became aggravated by the anesthesia from the surgery and her heart had stopped. I tell myself she didn't suffer, that she just...left. some nights my crying wakes me as I dream of her. Still two years later and I miss her every day. Tragedy number one, complete.

August rolls around. The furnished condo we were supposed to move into falls through. The previous tenant decides not to move out and the landlord and I had negotiated on a handshake. I was an idiot, plain and simple. Lesson learned. Tragedy number two, complete.

December finds me living with my best friend in her spare bedroom. My 2007 Honda SE lease ends. I'm now driving a $300 1992 Taurus.This thing scares me. I often wished it would just explode. They tell you to be careful what you wish for, with good reason. A few days before Christmas, it blew up. I mean, really blew up. Boom! On the bright side, a salvage yard paid me $200 for it. Tragedy number three, kind of complete.

Just after Christmas, I met a family through my church that wanted to have my son and I over for dinner. You know how they say when one door closes, another one opens? Well, it can’t get much more literal that this, folks. We loved them and they loved us. And random tidbit, their dog? Her name is Kaya. I thought Blake was going to faint when she jumped on him and they yelled, "Kaya, get down!". The next day I got a phone call and that went a bit like this:

Them: So Christy, we got to thinking after dinner last night, we just bought this new house and the lower level is its own separate unit.

Me: Uh huh

Them: Well, we can’t really rent it out to just anyone, because they’d have access to our house

Me: Uh huh…

Them: But we really liked you and your little mister, we’d love to have you look at it. If you’d be interested?

Me: Well, what are you doing today?

Now, mind you, we've met only once, that one time, over dinner at their house. I had explained how I had arrived at this existence where I was kind of homeless, didn’t own any furniture, had everything left that I own locked in a 10x10 storage unit and didn’t have a car. It was kind of a bad scene, but I tried to make it not sound as pathetic as it does right now as I am telling you. It seemed my luck was a turnin’. My only question after looking through this new home was, “Can I paint?” to which I was met with a lot of laughing and, “Can you? Yes! Please, please paint.”

January 11^th, 2009, I wake up in the middle of the night to a dream that my Grandpa was in the hospital. I sat next to him and as I held his hand, I watched him slip away. This is only the second time in my life that my sobbing woke me from my sleep. I called him the next day:

Me: Well hi, Grandpa, I just called to tell you I love you.

Him: Well I love you, too, doll. Did you hear the news? The cancer is gone.

(as he says this his voice breaks and he starts to cry)

Me: I did. I am so very happy to hear that.

Him: Hey, any chance you can find me a book on how to make a Cardinal feeder?

Me: I will sure try

Him: You’re a good girl, Christy. Well, I’m glad you called, I love ya.

Me: So am I, and I love you, too.

It would be the last time I hear his voice, besides in my own head. That Thursday my Grandpa went into the hospital unexpectedly and with the dream in the back of my mind, I didn’t want to go. I was planning a visit for the weekend, anyway. Saturday afternoon my aunt called, she said he was doing much better and suggested I wait to see him when he comes home. He died around 1:00 am Monday morning, almost a week after I watched him leave in my dream. I loved him dearly. It kind of freaked my Grandma out, since I told her about it, and between us, it kind of freaked me out, too. He was my like my father, he raised me, I would miss him every day. Tragedy number four, complete.

My favorite photo, I think because it reminds me of JFK

I moved into "The Bucks" at the beginning of February with pretty much just a mattress, books and dishes with me. Oh, and an arsenal of painting and cleaning supplies, I can’t forget those. I put my bed in the kitchen and spent every spare minute that I wasn’t working my day job painting every single inch of this place. Looking back, I can honestly say that having a project of that size to work on saved me, it really did. At times I would break down, I’d fall to the floor and sob hysterically. But now, when I look at specific part of the room, I don’t think of how sad I was back then. I think of how my hands touched every inch of this space, how I helped breathe new life into it. I think of how proud my Grandpa would be of me. I think of how many things went wrong for me to find something that would eventually turn out to be so right.

That was two years ago.

Since then I’ve managed to collect all new pieces of furniture – mostly for free that I’ve upcycled. I’ve found a way to turn my giant one-room “loft” space into four separate rooms that each carry out their own function. I’ve changed my mind often, but each time I get closer to who I feel that I am and my space reflects how far I’ve come. I’ll never be completely happy with it, nor will I ever not see an improvement that can be made. I've lost loved ones and more vehicles and doors still close while others still open. But, isn’t that just life?

We have never truly arrived, we always have room to grow. Why wouldn’t the same be true for the shelter we call our home? I think I’m okay with that. In fact, I think I love that.

I also think I am very, very lucky.

My next installment:
Creating A Cottage On A Hill Project: The Living Room